No fatalities

Cessna 120 No Series accident at Chatham, IL, 15 May 2020

Chatham, IL, United States

On May 15, 2020, a Cessna 120 No Series was involved in an aviation accident near Chatham, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotContributed to outcomeAbility to respond/compensate

Other contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPitch control — Not attained/maintained

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 15 May 2020 Cessna 120 No Series accident near Chatham, IL?

The pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over.

Were there any fatalities in the 15 May 2020 Cessna 120 No Series accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 15 May 2020 involved a Cessna 120 No Series, at Chatham, IL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to continue flight in instrument meteorological conditions in an airplane not equipped for instrument flight, which forced her to perform a precautionary landing to a muddy field resulting in the airplane nosing over.